Friday, 27 January 2012

So it's that time of year when all you silly kids with new years resolutions haven't been to the gym in 2 and a half weeks, and ate a Kitkat for lunch. You haven't tried anything new since January 4th and you've been somking again since January 5th.

New years resolutions are complete crap I think. Why is it that so many people feel like since it's the beginning of a year their lives merit some kind of extreme change? Shouldn't you be changing all the time and adjusting your lifestyle as needed? There's no motivation to make a change because of the date.

I'm sure the conspiracy theorists have a thought on the concept of resolutions.

I didn't make a resolution this year and I've been doing just fine this past month. I did however recently find a list from last year about all the things I wanted to do in 2011, and it's complete bullshit. Apparently I was in an inspirational mood because I wanted challenge myself daily, set goals, and live a healthy lifestyle.

This list goes on and on but it's pretty embarassing.

It got me thinking about 2011, and I realized I've done all those things without needed to think about a stupid list that I had completely forgotten about by the next week I'm sure.

I don't think life can be defined by these huge changes you made in your life, but the little ones that happen everyday that you don't really notice. So lets take a photo journey through my experinces and lessons learned in 2011!

I perfected my Jello shot recipe for my birthday

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I served some of the dumbest people in Winnipeg

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I dropped out of University for a term and went back to summer courses where assignments were "go get coffee and take a picture of it" I was good at that course.

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I went to Hogwarts! (Universal studios counts)

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I drove through the most insane storm of the summer on a dirt road with no cell reception, and waited it out in a random person's garage on the side of the highway.

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I climbed to the top of Old Blady for Michelle to put her first rock on an inukshuk at Malachi! She's a lifer now.

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I drove to Chicago where my friends demostrated their amazing art skills.

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I sat on the Skydeck at the top of the Willis Tower (formerly Seers tower)

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I went to Lollapalooza with 4 people and left Lollapalooza with 4 people. That's an accomplishment.

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Janey and I cleaned out my car for one of the first times since I bought it

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I started CreComm, met some incredible people, and ate a stupid amount of hotdogs.

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I cocaptained an ultimate frisbee team where we learned to play with more beer in our systems than water.

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I learned how to cut corn off the cob

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And I rang in the new year with some of the best people in the world.

Get rid of your lists and resolutions, you're going to forget about them anyways. Live your life as it comes. It worked out just fine for me. ﻿

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

The story is about a woman who shared her experience of being allegedly sexually assaulted by her cab driver this summer. Jennifer Joslin, who is the co-ordinator of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program helps woman who have been sexually assaulted by cab drivers. In the past two years there have been about 12 woman who have come to her with sexual assault cases against cab drivers.

So 12 woman have reported being sexually assaulted, but how many have just been harassed? Like me.

About a year and a half ago I was working when some friends and I from my workplace decided to have a night out after our shifts. Since I had the latest shift I decided to just meet up with them at Whiskey Dix nightclub. Since they were all at the bar already I decided to take a cab by myself from my home in River Park South to the bar on Main Street.

I was 19 and going to a club so I was wearing big heels and a little dress ready to have a good time. I've never been given any reason to not trust a cab driver so i got in the front seat, I think that was my mistake and I still regret it.

The driver was nice and friendly and I was being friendly and joking around with him at first as well. As we started to get out of my neighbourhood he asked me what my plans were for the night and I told him that I was just meeting up with some friends to dance and have a night out. Then he told me, "no you're not"

I asked what he meant.

He told me that I wasn't meeting up with my friends tonight.

Well why not?

He told me that I was going to his house tonight. He told me that there were other girls there that I could be with. He told me that it would be just as much fun as going to the bar with my friends.

Despite my sinking stomach I was still trying to keep the mood light so I laughed and said "No, no... my friends are expecting to see me, let's just go to the bar"

This is when things took a turn. To get to Whiskey Dix from my house it's literally one straight shot down St.Marys which turns into Main Street. The driver instead took me on a big loop of downtown heading west in the opposite direction of the bar.

He told me that the other girls were scared at first too, but now they love him. He continued to say that I wouldn't be seeing my friends that night and the more I argued with him the more told me to stop arguing because "I'm going to kidnap you"

It's hard to in a situation like that to decide what to do. It seems so clear when you think about it later or read it from someone elses perspective but it's a whole different game once you're there. I was scared and alone and in an area I was unfamiliar with. I was wearing big heels, no chance to run. So I kept my phone up to my ear and told him I was going to call someone. I had one hand on the door handle as we moved and I tried to stay confident and calm. I told him I was calling someone, and I think he started to get nervous. Cabs all have cameras and ID numbers. 911 calls are easily traceable. If I called anyone, even if he did take me somewhere he would be caught.

So he detoured and went to the bar where as soon as we slowed down I threw open the door and jumped out.

Some people have a sick sense of humour. Could it have been a joke to him? Even if it was, it is 100% inappropriate. I don't know if maybe my confidence at the time or my idea to threatened to make a phone call saved me, I don't even know if what he was saying was true but it's a night I still remember vividly.

I never reported this incident. I know I should have, but I didn't.
I often wonder how many other woman or men for that matter have had experiences similar to mine. NEVER get into a cab alone, especially in the front where you are easily accessable.

I am in NO way trying to say that all cab drivers are bad. 99% of the time cab rides go exactly as planned, the drivers are friendly, polite, and safe.
I also believe that cab drivers are probably often harassed by drunk or aggressive passengers as well. This is just one side of the issue.

But just as your parents warned when you were little, never go anywhere with a stranger, they might be a bad person and it could be too late by the time you figure that out.

Follow up article in the Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/Ride-Gone-Wrong-a-taxi-story-136967968.html

Sunday, 8 January 2012

"Pepsi" is not an emotion
neither is "water, make sure there's a lemon"
and my favourite "uhm, what's on tap?"
also, not an emotion.

My job as a server is to ask you how you are
90% of the time I don't care how you are.
But lets go through these motions together so I can go get you your ridiculous hot water with lemon.
Just get a tea, stop being so cheap.

No we do not have french onion soup.
Remember when I told you the specials?
I said cream of mushroom.
Remember when the guy beside you asked what kind of soups we have?
If I didn't say french onion it's because I dont have french onion.
Why are you mad at me?!
I don't run the kitchen.
We also don't have honey dill.
Sorry.
Deal with it.

I am currently holding 3 scalding hot plates that are burning a hole through the skin on my forarm
the skin between my thumb and index finger has been perma-burned for 2 years
WHY AREN'T YOU MOVING YOUR WATER GLASS
FYI if your server has full hands and there is no room on your table to put down your plate
Help them out!

"get me another beer"
Not and emotion
I asked "how is everything going over here"
Appropriate answer?
"good, can I grab another beer?"
I am a server by my own freewill.
Ask me, don't tell me.
I am not a slave.

All servers want is to be respected. Be nice to your server, go along with their questions and be polite about their suggestions. It's our job! Don't blame them for things out of their control, they don't make the rules, they're just the ones that have to use them.